Sunday, December 13, 2009

Comelec okays OPO party-list

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has approved the petition for registration of Pamilyang Overseas Filipino Workers-Small and Medium Enterpreneurs Network Foundation, Inc. (OPO) as a sectoral party under the party-list system of elections, OPO president George A. Arriola announced Sunday.

The eight-page Comelec First Division Resolution signed by Presiding Commissioner Rene V. Sarmiento, Com. Armando C.Velasco and Com. Gregorio Y. Larrazabal was promulgated on December 7.

In its petition, OPO stated that: it has been in existence for more than seven years having been registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 14, 2002; it intends to participate in the 2010 party-list elections and seeks to represent the marginalized and underrepresented sector of OFWs and their families; it is a regional sector party with constituents comprising of residents and registered voters of the National Capital Region (NCR); its platform of government will address the problems of OFW families; and that it complied with the Eight-Point Guideline set by the Supreme Court in the case of Ang Bagong Bayani vs Comelec 359 SCRA 699 (2001).

After carefully considering the contents of OPO’s petition and supporting documents, the Comelec said that OPO has successfully complied with the Eight-Point Guideline and the other requirements for party-list registration